A coalition led by the NAACP, joined by civil rights groups, has filed a motion asking a judge to protect sensitive voter data seized by the FBI from Fulton County elections infrastructure, arguing the seizure violated privacy protections and could affect the right to vote.

The FBI seized ballots, tabulator tapes, electronic ballot images, and voter rolls on a January 28, 2026, operation tied to the 2020 election in Fulton County, with Fulton County pushing for the return of the materials.

The case sits amid ongoing DOJ efforts to obtain unredacted state voter registration rolls, a practice criticized by Democrats and others and challenged by federal courts in several jurisdictions.

Former President has floated ideas like state-level takeovers or nationalizing elections in multiple states as part of broader rhetoric on how elections should be run.

Trump has claimed widespread voter fraud in Fulton County but has not substantiated the claims; the investigation is tied to an intermediary who previously advised him on election integrity.

Damon Hewitt of the Lawyers’ Committee frames the actions as part of a broader assault on voting rights and democracy, linking it to redistricting and voter purge efforts.

The filing recalls Trump’s pressure on Georgia officials to “find 11,870 votes” and places the current disputes within ongoing tensions over the 2020 election’s integrity, even though the results were certified.

The DOJ’s push for unredacted state voter rolls has drawn scrutiny, with Kurt Olsen—an adviser to Trump during the contest of the 2020 results—now involved in election security and integrity efforts.

The parties argue the Trump administration intends to use the seized data to purge voter rolls with unreliable data before the 2026 midterms, noting repeated federal court rejections of related suits.

The broader context portrays threats to fair elections and democracy, with the defendants seeking emergency relief to prevent misuse of the seized data.

Robert Weiner of the voting rights project warns about security and privacy risks, emphasizing the danger of releasing sensitive information such as social security numbers to political actors.

Legal filings describe an Emergency Motion and a Supporting Brief aimed at restricting the use of seized data to the criminal investigation and blocking purges, doxing, or intimidation.